Buying My Forever Wife novel Chapter 13

Stella was absolutely thrilled to see Ivy waiting for her after school.

The little girl was a bundle of energy the entire ride home.

The second they arrived, she dragged Ivy into The Starlight Estate's sprawling garden for a game of hide-and-seek.

Since Ivy hadn't gone to the hospital, she received a text from Ethan asking her to bring him dinner.

Remembering Ethan's relationship with Alaric,

she didn't dare accept any more of his money and politely declined.

*I'm not at work today. I can bring you food when I have time, but you don't need to pay me.*

She was desperate for cash, yes.

She still needed to save up for her driver's license.

Otherwise, she wouldn't know how to explain herself when Alaric asked about it.

But Ethan was Alaric's nephew. What kind of person would she be if she kept taking his money?

When he didn't reply, she brushed it off, slipped her phone into her pocket, and went back to playing with Stella.

The little girl pulled a silk tie from nowhere and handed it to her.

"Mommy, put this over your eyes and try to find me!"

Ivy took the tie, raising an eyebrow. "Where did you get this? It's your dad's, isn't it? We can't play with his things."

If Alaric caught them, he'd definitely hold her responsible.

Stella shook her head vigorously, her big eyes wide with innocent sincerity.

"Daddy doesn't want it anymore! He said I could play with it. Put it on, Mommy, so it's harder to catch me."

Ivy couldn't help but sigh in amusement.

She walked over to check the wrought-iron courtyard gates, ensuring they were firmly locked so the child couldn't run off, before agreeing to the rules.

"Alright, I'll blindfold myself. But you can't run too far, okay? Don't make it impossible for me to find you."

"Yay! Yay!"

Stella clapped her hands in pure joy.

Once Ivy had tied the silk fabric securely over her eyes, the little girl started darting around, giggling.

Alaric couldn't deny that there was a time when his daughter never smiled.

She used to be perpetually gloomy; Dr. Sinclair had even suspected mild autism.

Looking at her now, she was no different from any other vibrant child. All she had ever lacked was a mother's presence.

In that fleeting moment, Alaric actually felt a twinge of gratitude for Ivy's arrival.

If she hadn't stepped into their lives, he might never have seen such an innocent, radiant smile on his daughter's face.

Not wanting to ruin the playful, lighthearted bubble they had created,

Alaric quietly pushed the car door open and stepped out.

He planned to take the long way around them to slip into the house unnoticed.

But against all odds, Stella suddenly sprinted over, hid behind his legs, and shouted at Ivy,

"Mommy, I'm right here! Why are you so slow? Come on, I promise I won't move!"

Ivy followed the voice, shuffling forward blindly.

Realizing the child was directly in front of her,